The latest data from the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) points to a significant improvement in the shortages of many construction materials, with lower costs and shorter lead times as the markets return to some form of normality post-pandemic.
The CLC’s Product Availability working group, co-chaired by John Newcomb, CEO of the Builders Merchants Federation and Peter Caplehorn, CEO of the Construction Products Association, recently reported that the production and supply of materials was easing, with the exception of gas boilers and components, and renewables, such as solar photovoltaics.
The latter have seen an upsurge in interest as a consequence of the energy crisis, as more people with projects factor in greener building and energy saving initiatives in an attempt to minimise the costs of energy.
NaCSBA welcomes the news that shortages are easing, which are nationwide with the exception of Northern Ireland, where local issues around transportation continue to be an issue.
As well as the impact of the war in the Ukraine, the energy crisis remains a problem for the sector as in every field, with expectations that it will lead to dramatic price increases for energy intensive items, such as glass and brick, with transport costs further affecting costs.
The cost of living crisis is translating into reduced workflows for SME housebuilders and tradespeople as people postpone renovation and extension work. However, these smaller projects enjoyed a post-pandemic boom when people wanted to get more out of their homes, making it harders for self builders to secure trades. The reduced workflow should mean that self builders, who are less able to delay a project that has commenced, can take advantage of improved availability for their builds.
